Rotterdam Festivals expat magazine

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAMART ROTTERDAM WEEKAND MORE...

FEstIvaL guIDE 2015

2 FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

Mau

rizio

Cat

tela

n, U

ntitl

ed, 2

001.

Cop

yrig

ht M

auriz

io C

atte

lan,

cou

rtes

y M

aria

n G

oodm

an G

alle

ry, N

ew Y

ork.

Pho

to: A

ttilio

Mar

anza

no.

Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Closed on Mondays and 1 January, 27 April and 25 December.

Visit Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and take a trip through art from the Middle Ages right up to the present day. Discover the extraordinary museum collection, with masterpieces by Bosch, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Dali. Be amazed by the changing exhibitions, from heart-stopping paintings to cutting-edge contemp orary installa-tions. Not forgetting the cool espresso bar and the fabulous museum shop full of superb design. See you soon! www.boijmans.nl

BOIJ_adv_Burlington_dinA5.indd 1 15-12-14 17:31

3

Mau

rizio

Cat

tela

n, U

ntitl

ed, 2

001.

Cop

yrig

ht M

auriz

io C

atte

lan,

cou

rtes

y M

aria

n G

oodm

an G

alle

ry, N

ew Y

ork.

Pho

to: A

ttilio

Mar

anza

no.

Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Closed on Mondays and 1 January, 27 April and 25 December.

Visit Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and take a trip through art from the Middle Ages right up to the present day. Discover the extraordinary museum collection, with masterpieces by Bosch, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Dali. Be amazed by the changing exhibitions, from heart-stopping paintings to cutting-edge contemp orary installa-tions. Not forgetting the cool espresso bar and the fabulous museum shop full of superb design. See you soon! www.boijmans.nl

BOIJ_adv_Burlington_dinA5.indd 1 15-12-14 17:31

Rotterdam is a true festival city with dozens of in- and outdoor festivals every year. It therefore came as no surprise that the city was declared IFEA World Festival & Event City in 2010 in the category of medium-sized cities. During the summer months there is a wide range of outdoor festivals, often in the middle of town or in the city parks. There you will find music, theater, poetry and dance of all styles. But Rotterdam does not limit its festival fun to the summer! 2015 kicks off with two leading international festivals: Rotterdam International Film Festival and Art Rotterdam Week. In this festival guide you can read all about these upcoming events. Plus, we take a look at the iconic events that take place in Rotterdam throughout the year. Have lots of festival fun!

Welcome to Rotterdam festival city

CHILD FRIENDLY FEstIvaLsFestivals marked with a family icon are child friendly and often include special activities for children.

For an overview of all festivals in Rotterdam for 2015 visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl

CONTENT

International Film 4 Festival Rotterdam

Art Rotterdam Week 8

National Holidays 11

Major Sport Events 12

Festival Highlights 14

Visitor Information 15

iNTrOduCTiON

COlOPHON

This is a publication by Stichting Rotterdam Festivals. We thank all the institutions and festival organizations who have contributed to this publication.Content Rotterdam FestivalsDesign Stof RotterdamPrinting Platform PPhotos Bas Czerwinski, Ossip van Duivenbode, Fred Ernst, Dimitri Hakke, Henk Koster and Marco de Swart.

© Rotterdam Festivals December 2014 | Subject to change


44TH iNTErNaTiONal Film FEsTival rOTTErdam

DATESWED 21 JAN – SUN 1 FEB

FESTIVAL VENUESDe Doelen, Rotterdamse Schouwburg, Pathé Schouw-burgplein, oude Luxor Theater, Cinerama Filmtheater, Lanta-renVenster, WORM and more.

FILMS & TICKETSThe complete program will be announced on Wednesday 14 January on www.iffr.com/en and as an annex to newspaper De Volkskrant. Online ticket sales start on Friday 16 January at 20:00. Difficult to choose? First Aid for Film Selection gives you customized suggestions based on five questions. See eerste-hulp.filmfestivalrotterdam.com (online 14 January).

www.iffr.com/en

Adventurous, leading and unpretentious

5

In 1972 the first edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) attracted seventeen visitors. Forty-three years later much has changed. Almost 300,000 film lovers and 2,500 film professionals find their way to this twelve-day festival. IFFR has grown into one of the most important cultural events in Rotterdam and one of the leading film festivals in Europe. A constant factor since its inception: a program full of adventure, controversy, innovation and quality.

Current festival director Rutger Wolfson was sixteen when he caught the IFFR virus. “I remember the first time very well. A friend and I went to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. My delicate adolescent soul was not only overwhelmed by the film, but also by the festival. At the time, the Hilton Hotel was the epicenter of the festival, the place-to-be for parties and talk shows. I was so impressed by the whole atmosphere. I wanted to go in but didn’t have the nerve, so we sat there with a bottle of Coke, outside in the corridor all night. Just to get a feel, a taste, of some of the excitement that was going on around us.”

“The first time I remember very well. I went with a friend to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. My delicate adolescent soul was not only overwhelmed by the film, but also by the festival.”This year, Wolfson heads up the film festival for the eighth year running. A festival whose impact is immediately visible in the city. For twelve days Rotterdam bustles even more than usual. Not only in the movie theatres but throughout the entire city: hotels are fully booked, cafés and restaurants are busier than ever and there are parties, exhibitions and performances everywhere. Wolfson: “Rotterdam is in itself >>

Adventurous, leading and unpretentious

WEd 21 JaN – suN 1 FEB 2015

Interview and photo Dimitri Hakke

RUTGER WOLFSONFestival Director


>> a multicultural city, but during IFFR you hear all sorts of languages around you and the city becomes even more diverse than usual.”

The special thing about IFFR is that it is a festival for professionals and film lovers. Other leading film festivals such as Cannes or Venice tend to focus on one group or the other. “At IFFR both groups come together,” explains the director. “This creates a special, informal atmosphere, where everyone is equal. Actors, filmmakers, both known and lesser known, they all mingle with the public and are easily approachable. It fits very well with the Rotterdam mentality: no pretense, no fuss.”

“The audience often says: of the ten films that you see here, five are good, two are so bad that you want to forget them immediately and three films are so special that they stay with you forever.”Although the festival has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, and has become one of the largest of its kind, the atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, while maintaining an adventurous and innovative program. Wolfson: “The prevailing

idea about growing festivals is that as you get bigger, you also have to make concessions in terms of programming. Something more middle of the road or maybe a lesser film gets included just because you want to have famous actors on the red carpet. For IFFR, the contrary is true: the festival has become big by staying opinionated and outspoken. A common audience reaction sums it up nicely: “Of the ten films that you see here, five are good, two are so bad that you want to forget them immediately and three films are so special that they stay with you forever.”

According to the festival director, one of the main challenges in such a packed film program is to guide the visitors through the wide selection and make sure that people see a film they will appreciate. What helps the audience choose is the widely available English program guide and daily bilingual newspaper. But another handy tool is the IFFR website, where festival goers can get customized movie suggestions by answering a few questions. “There is something for everyone, but you have to know how to find it”, says Wolfson. “And if, for whatever reason, you hate looking at a large screen, there is still something for you to enjoy and you will find yourself wanting to give it a try. Once you hear all the enthusiastic stories while you are dancing at the Rotterdamse Schouwburg, you will most likely want to see a film the next day anyway.”_

7

Prior to the 35th edition of the Rotterdam Marathon, Rotterdam Topsport organizes a three-day film festival around sports. Films are shown in their original language with many of them in English.www.sportfilmfestivalrotterdam.nl

Small-scale events are organizedregularly in Rotterdam. Roffa Mon Amour is a great example of this. Watch films in the open air at a surprising location. Last year they turned a deserted parking deck into an outdoor cinema. Enjoy the latest international art house films. And the views of course!www.roffamonamour.com

This open-air cinema is a popular annual event for residents of the city. Visitors can rent a chair for € 1 (or bring one yourself) and watch films released in the past year. All films are shown in their original language. Before the film there is live music and you can grab a bite to eat at the various food stalls. www.pleinbioscooprotterdam.nl

During three days dozens of films are shown, ranging from world premieres and classic films to documentaries and short films. The program, including guided tours, talk shows and debates, is predominantly English.www.affr.nl

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture during the biggest festival for Japanese film and anime in the Benelux. Besides film there is music, dance and of course lots of delicious Japanese food!www.camerajapan.nl

mOrE Film FEsTivals iN 2015

spoRt FILmFEstIvaL RottERDamTHU 9 – SAT 11 APR Cinerama Filmtheater

RoFFa moN amouRFRI 24 JUL – SAT 1 AUG Location to be determined

pLEINbIosCoop RottERDamWED 12 – SUN 30 AUG Museumpark

aRCHItECtuRE FILm FEstIvaL RottERDamTHU 8 – SUN 11 OCT LantarenVenster

CamERa JapaN THU 24 – SUN 27 SEPLantarenVenster

For more film festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl


arT rOTTErdam WEEK

From Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 February Rotterdam becomes a mecca for art lovers and professionals. In addition there are pop-up shows, open studios, exhibitions and openings in museums and galleries.

DATES AND LOCATIONSWED 4 – SUN 8 FEB Van Nellefabriek, Wilhelminapier,Katendrecht, Museumpark and Witte de Withstraat.

www.artrotterdamweek.com

1. vaN NELLEFabRIEKNow in its 16th year, Art Rotterdam is the festivals main art fair. The fair includes more than one hundred galleries from home and abroad, as well as the top of contemporary and modern art. In and around the Van Nellefabriek you can fi nd the various sections under one roof. There are also pop-up shows, artist presentations and exhibitions by, among others, the Mondriaan Fund. Part of Art Rotterdam is We like Art, a sales exhibition selling various works under € 1,500.

2. vIERHavENgEbIEDMade in 4Havens Festival shows how products are manufactured. There is a route past fi ve manufac-turing sites such as wood-working, the latest aviation technology and experiments with the latest techniques of 3D printing for textile production. In addition, Atelier van lieshout shows the Blastfurnace, an instal-lation measuring more than 11 meters of steel driven by manpower and simple mechanics, for the very fi rst time in the Netherlands.

FREE TRANSPORTATIONThe various art fairs take place in different locations: Art Rotterdam in the Van Nellefabriek and Rotterdam Contemporary and OBJECT Rotter dam on the Southbank. Free transfer (shuttle bus) isavailable between the locations. The shuttle bus route also passes Vierhavengebied, Witte de Withstraat and Museumpark.

Rotterdam city of art

9

4. FENIXLooDsEN Wilhelminapier and Katendrecht are vibrant locations during Art Rotterdam Week. There are two major fairs and several art projects in public spaces. There is No Walls Expo & Inter- national Book Art Fair in Fenixloods, which is a group exhibition and an art books fair. Out There is a project in collaboration with Nederlands Fotomuseum, where landscape images are incorporated into video projections and installations.

6. musEumpaRK & WIttE DE WItHstRaatDuring Art Rotterdam Week you can visit the museums and galleries around Museumpark and Witte de Withstraat such as Kunsthal Rotterdam and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. There are various openings and different locations offer discounts on admission upon presentation of the Art Rotter-dam ticket.

WEd 4 – suN 8 FEB 2015

5. ss RottERDamOBJECT Rotterdam is a fair showing works of nearly forty (inter)national art galleries and design platforms in the field of design, art, architecture and fashion. There are also presentations, lectures and interviews.

3. CRuIsE tERmINaLRotterdam Contemporary Art Fair (formerly RAW Art Fair) is a vibrant mix of galleries and art initiatives with contemporary art, photography, design, music, installations, videos, sound and performance. The exhibition ex-udes a festival atmosphere and wants to show how accessible art can be.

Illustration Femke Wieringa


Rotterdam has many museums with leading collections. A number of major museums, including Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Kunsthal Rotterdam, Het Nieuwe Instituut and Natuurhistorisch Museum are located in and around Museum park. Witte de Withstraat is within walking distance, where you will find Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, TENT and gallery MAMA.Photography lovers can go to Nederlands Fotomuseum on the Wilhelminapier (Southbank).

mOrE arT iN rOTTErdam

musEum boIJmaNs vaN bEuNINgENMuseumpark 18www.boijmans.nl

KuNstHaL RottERDamWestzeedijk 341www.kunsthal.nl

HEt NIEuWE INstItuutMuseumpark 25www.hetnieuweinstituut.nl

NatuuRHIstoRIsCH musEum RottERDamWestzeedijk 345www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl

WIttE DE WItH CENtER FoR CoNtEmpoRaRY aRt & tENtWitte de Withstraat 50www.wdw.nl & www.tentrotterdam.nl

sHoWRoom mamaWitte de Withstraat 29-31www.showroommama.nl

NEDERLaNDs FotomusEumWilhelminakade 332www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

CHabot musEum Museumpark 11www.chabotmuseum.nl

For more art festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl

11

NaTiONal HOlidays

National holidays such as King’s Day and Liberation Day are celebrated with various festivities.

Rotterdam city of celebrations

KoNINgsDagMON 27 APR

King’s Day is the national holiday on which the Nether lands celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. Everyone has the day off work and school and many take to the streets to sell their stuff on the ‘free market’. People clean out their attics and wardrobes and simply sell the things they do not want anymore from a carpet on the sidewalk. Also, everyone dresses in orange and silly outfits, and the whole country parties together on this festive holiday!

ORANJEBITTER | PARKLAANOne of the most popular Koningsdag parties for the last seven years. The secret line-up never disappoints. www.oranjebitter-rotterdam.nl

KONINgSDAg FESTIVAl | WILLEMSPLEINOutdoor stage with bands and DJ’s that will have people dancing at the foot of the Erasmus bridge! www.kdfrotterdam.nl

S’ORANJE | PLEIN 1940Two stages, a food court and hippy market. With music ranging from smooth tunes to banging party hits.www.soranje.nl

KRAlINgSE BOS FESTIVAl | KRALINGSE BOSOrganizer Revolt presents a lineup full of fine DJs during the second edition of this techno and deep house festival.www.kralingsebosfestival.nl

bEvRIJDINgsFEstIvaLTUE 5 MEI | HET PARk (bIJ DE EUROMAST) On Liberation Day we celebrate our freedom in the Netherlands. In 1945 the country was liberated from German occupation and since then the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been free from war and oppression. Once every five years it is also a national day off, as is the case in 2015. The place to be in Rotter dam is Het Park at the Euromast for Liberation Festival South Hol-land. You have all day to enjoy various (free) music performances.www.bevrijdingsfestivalzh.nl

For more art festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl


maJOr sPOrT EvENTs

Rotterdam city of sports

maRatHoN RottERDamSUN 12 APR | COOLSINGEL

A major sporting event with thousands of participants. The best runners in the world run over 42 kilometers for new records but many locals train year round to run this marathon as well. More than 925,000 spectators and live music performances along the route create a special atmosphere that is felt throughout the city.www.marathonrotterdam.nl

sIgN up!Do you want to run this marathon? You can register yourself via www.marathonrotterdam.nl. It is also possible to do 10 kilometers. This run starts and finishes - just like the real Marathon - on the Coolsingel. Count on an impressive reception of cheering spectators!

In 2015 Rotterdam is host to several international sport events.

WaNt to RuN?Throughout the year there are various runs you can do:

ROPARuN MON 25 MAY www.roparun.nlNESSElOOP SAT 30 MAY www.loopgroepnesselande.nllADIESRuN SUN 14 JUN www.ladiesrun.nlMEN OF STEEl RuN SUN 12 SEP www.menofsteelrun.nlHARBOuR RuN SUN 11 OCT www.harbourrun.nlElECTRIC RuN SAT 17 OCT www.electricrun.nlBRuggENlOOP ROTTERDAM SUN 13 DEC www.bruggenloop.nlFor more festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl

13

abN amRo WoRLD tENNIstouRNamENtMON 9 – SUN 15 FEb | AHOy ROTTERDAM

Since 1974 known as the largest and busiest men’s indoors tennis tournament in the world. During this 42nd edition the very best players in the world face off at Ahoy Rotterdam.www.abnamrowtt.nl

vKv CItY RaCINg

SUN 30 AUG | COOLSINGEL

Formula 1 racing cars tear through the city at high speed! The definitive racing event of the Netherlands with (inter)national racing cars and drivers racing through the heart of the city. www.cityracing.nl

WK bEaCHvoLLEYbaLFRI 26 JUN – SUN 5 JUL | SS ROTTERDAM

This year Rotterdam is one of the four Dutch host cities of the World Championship Beach Volleyball. Late June a temporary stadium will rise on the quay at the ss Rotterdam that will host two thousand spectators.

touR DE FRaNCE SUN 5 JUL | COOLSINGEL

Five years ago, the Grand Depart of the Tour de France started in Rotterdam. This year the Tour comes racing through Rotterdam again. On July 5, the tour caravan leaves from Capelle aan den IJssel and runs through the heart of the city on its way to Zeeland.

EK voLLEYbaL FoR WomENSAT 26 SEP – SUN 4 OCTAHOy ROTTERDAM / TOPSPORT CENTRUM ROTTERDAM

In the autumn of 2015 the best women’s volleyball teams compete against each other during the European Championship Volleyball for women. The games take place in Apeldoorn, Almere, Antwerp and Rotterdam. The final will be played at Ahoy Rotterdam. www.volleybal.nl/nevobo/verenigingen/join-wk-en-ek-2015


FEsTival HigHligHTs laTEr THis yEar

RobIN RottERDam uNLImItEDTUE 21 – SAT 25 JUL | SCHOUWbURGPLEIN, COOLSINGEL

For three days in the last weekend of July, a multi-cultural mix featuring the best ingredients from versatile Rotterdam: A buzzing city full of music, dance, street art, theater, food and drinks. On different stages throughout the city center you see a wide variety of performances and acts. One of the major highlights is the Summer Carnival Street Parade on Saturday, where you can get your swing on in the streets. The festival is mostly free of charge.www.rotterdamunlimited.com

Rotterdam city of festivals

poRt oF RottERDam NoRtH sEa Jazz FEstIvaLFRI 10 – SUN 12 JUL | AHOy ROTTERDAM

Globally, this festival is known for its many musical genres, ranging from New Orleans jazz and swing to blues and hip hop. During three days more than 65,000 visitors come to enjoy jazz music from the past, present and future. This year there will be performances by, among others, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. International artists share the stage with new talent, giving the audience a chance to enjoy old favorites, while also discovering new talent. To warm up, from Friday 26 June to Sunday 12 July, there will be jazz concerts all over the city with North Sea Round Town. In restaurants, living rooms and on various stages, known and unknown jazz artists will leave you wanting more! www.northseajazz.com/en

For more festivals in 2015 visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl

So far you have seen the festivals in the first part of 2015. In the rest of the year there are also many festivals in Rotterdam so do not miss these iconic events!

15

vIsItoR INFoRmatIoNFor a complete overview of the festivals and additional information visit:www.rotterdamfestivals.nl | www.facebook.com/rotterdamfestivals | www.twitter.com/rdamfestivals

________________________________________________________________________________

paRKINg IN RottERDam P+R facilities Located at the outskirts of the city. Here you can park for free and take public transportation to the city center within 10 minutes. www.parkerenindestad.nl

CItY CENtRETariffs and times are stated on all parking machines for on-street parking. You have to enter your license plate at the machine, you will not receive a paper ticket. Payment is only possible by bank or credit card.

pubLIC tRaNspoRtOV-chipkaartThe public transportation card is valid on all RET metro’s, trams and busses in all of Rotterdam. OV-chipkaarten are for sale at the stations. www.ov-chipkaart.nl

REtSupplier of public transport in Rotterdam and surroundings. The RET customer shop is located on Laan op Zuid 2. For schedules see www.ret.nl

INFoRmatIoNRotterdam.Info Tourist information and souvenirs. Located at Central Station and Coolsingel 195-197. +31 (0)10 - 790 01 85www.en.rotterdam.info

RottERDam WELComE CaRD

Offers discounts of 25% and more at 50 attractions, museums, restaurants and places of entertainment in Rotterdam and 1, 2 or 3 days of unlimited travel with RET metro, tram and bus. www.rotterdamwelcomecard.com

For more festivals in 2015 visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl

WERELDHavENDagENFRI 4 T/M SUN 6 SEP | VARIOUS VENUES

Rotterdam is a port city with one of the most important ports in Europe. This is celebrated every year during the World Port Days. Get on board a ship, see the spectacles on the water, make an excursion in the harbor and a good dose of entertainment, all in one day! Can you simply not get enough of the port? During the same weekend you can also visit the Maritime Quarter, the International Shanty Festival, Night on the Cape and Fabrique Mozaïque.www.wereldhavendagen.nl


Exh

ibiti

ons

Deb

ates

Tour

s

Arc

hive

S

tudy

Cen

tre

Sho

p

Son

neve

ld

Hou

seCaf

e

Exh

ibiti

ons

Deb

ates

Tour

s

Arc

hive

Stu

dy C

entr

e

Sho

p

Son

neve

ld

Hou

se

Caf

e

Exhibitions

Debates

ToursArchive

Study C

entre

Shop

Sonneveld

House

Cafe

Exhibi

tions

Debate

s

Archive

Study C

entre

Cafe

Shop

Sonne

veld H

ouse

Tour

s

Museumpark 25, Rotterdamwww.hetnieuweinstituut.nl

Het Nieuwe Instituut

Architecture Design

E-culture

Documents

Rotterdam Festivals expat magazine